Translation Help!!!
I have a favour to ask of any of my German-speaking lj friends. My daughter is singing a song called "Minnelied" by Felix Mendelssohn, and she needs a literal translation of the words. Any help would be greatly appreciated
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Comments 16
How the source so lovely sounds kisses, and the delicate flowers how the Fink sings in the shadow, and the
near love e greets!
How the lights trembling tails, and the grass greener is happy how the firs grasp largely, and the linden tree
scatters, and the linden tree Blüthen!
In the linden tree sweetly Gedüfte, in the firs Riesellaut in the game of the summer air it shines as a spring
bride.
But forest tone, Vogelsingen, aroma of the Blüthen, keeps, light, would darken, succeed can never it you, can it you to be
its equally! Never can succeed it you to be its equally!
As you can see, it wasn't able to translate a couple of words...hope this helps you somewhat.
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As pour sound so lovely,
and the tender flowers kisses,
as the finch in the shade sing,
and the close sweetheart greets!
As the lights curve trembling,
and the grass the Greens is pleased,
as the firs seize far away,
and the lime tree, and the lime tree Blüthen strew!
In the lime tree sweetly Gedüfte,
in the firs Riesellaut
in the play of summer air
shine it as a spring bride.
But forest clay/tone, bird singing,
Smell of the Blüthen, keep,
Light, darkens, to never succeed can do it you, can it you to be alike it!
To never succeed can do you to be alike it!
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I can't tell you how much I appreciate your time.
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The delicate flowers and kisses,
Like Fink sing in the shade,
And the next Liebchen greets!
As the lights shaking, rambling,
And the grass is greener happy,
How widely are the firs,
And Linde, and the Linde Blüthen scatter!
In the Linde cute Gedüfte,
In the firs Riesellaut
In the game of the summer air
Glänzet it as a spring bride.
But Waldton, bird singing,
Scent of Blüthen, shelters,
Light, verdunkle, it can never succeed you,
It may be you, you immediately!
It can never succeed you, you immediately!
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How that Spring so lovely sounds
and the tender Flowers kiss,
like the Finch in the Shadow sings,
and the close Sweethearts greet!
How the Lights trembling curve,
and the Grass itself is greener in its joy,
how the Firs far away seize,
and the Linden-tree, and the Linden-tree Blossom strews!
In that Linden-tree sweetly Gedüfte,
in that Firs Riesellaut,
in that Play of Summer-air
it shines like a Spring-bride.
But Forest-tone, Birdsong,
Smell of that Blossom, keep,
Light, darken, it can never succeed,
never succeed, in being like you!
It can never succeed, in being like you!
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PS How'd you do this if you don't speak German?
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As for the translation thing, I just broke down the German text into smaller segments (stanzas, lines, single words) and plugged it into several free German-to-English translators until I got the closest literal translation possible. (I first tried this technique on several German poems in a college class, since I disliked the artistic liberties the translators had taken and wanted more literal translations closer to the poets’ original text.)
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Here it is (so you don't have to follow the link):
"Love song"
Translated into English by Carl Johengen
How the fountain so lovely sounds
and kisses the tender flowers,
how the finch in the shade sings
and greets the nearby sweetheart!
How the lights curve trembling
and the grass rejoices in its green,
how the firs reach out far
and the lime tree strews its blooms!
In the lime tree's sweet fragrance,
in the firs loud rustling,
in the play of summer air
She appears as a spring bride.
But forest sounds, birdsong,
Fragrance of blooms, cease,
light, die away, you can never
Be like unto her!
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My German is sadly lacking ... it's been years, though I think the actual translation (vs. the online ones) is the closest. Sorry, hon. Good luck.
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Thanks so much for referring it to your friend, also. Each of the translations is a little different.
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yeah, the accepted english translation has already been posted (altho' it's actually too literal -- it should be "how the fountain sounds so sweet..." but that's just being nitpicky, really)...
but... if it's for a voice audition for college, i hope she's not going to try and sing it in English...? in my experience, they frown upon that... unless she's gotten special permission. or is she just trying to get a feel of what the song is about so she can emote better?
good luck to her.
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